Toronto narrowly sets weather record on warm day

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Winter seemed like it was months away Tuesday morning, as Torontonians basked in record-setting warmth less than three weeks before the official change of seasons.

As people shed their toques and mitts, Toronto narrowly set a record high for Dec. 4 with a temperature of 16 C at the Pearson International Airport weather station at 9:31 a.m., said CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter.

The old record of 15.9 C was set in 1998.

In Toronto, people headed outdoors to enjoy the balmy weather, which was a gift with three weeks to go before Christmas Day.

“I couldn’t believe that I could come out for a run today with just this on,” jogger Heather Difruscia, who was wearing light clothing and no jacket, told CP24 reporter Sue Sgambati during a run along the city’s waterfront. “I’m used to bundling up. Even last week I had extra sweaters and gloves and stuff, so this is beautiful.”

Weather records were also set in Collingwood, Goderich, Sudbury, North Bay and other communities.

The lowest temperature ever recorded on Dec. 4 was -25 C in 1940, according to Environment Canada. In 1976, 10 centimetres of snow was on the ground.

People didn't have long to enjoy Tuesday's unseasonably warm weather, however.

According to Environment Canada, the temperature is dropping to 8 C in the afternoon as rain and strong winds move in.

Normal temperatures for this time of year are daytime highs of 3 C and overnight lows of -4 C.

The city will see a return to typical early December weather for the rest of the week.

Wednesday will bring a mix of sun and cloud, 40 kilometre-per-hour wind gusts and a high of 2 C, but the temperature will drop to -2 C in the afternoon, Environment Canada said.